Morning:
13°c
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
David Smyth's rating
Reader rating
Description: The Australian singer-songwriter plays her hits.
Phone: 0207372 7123
Website: www.theluminaire.co.uk
Email: info@theluminaire.co.uk
Trains: Tube: Kilburn 
, Tube / Bus: 16, 32, 98, 189, 316, N16, N28, N31, N98 
Extra info: Pub
A star is Torn: unfamiliar songs made Natalie Imbruglia’s intimate gig feel more like an industry showcase
While the gossip mags insist she is “close friends” with Prince Harry, Australian soap star turned siren Natalie Imbruglia made her live comeback in less than regal surroundings, at a tiny club halfway up Kilburn High Road.
Continuing a theme of impeccable connections, she was here to unveil songs from a fourth album due in October, three of which were written with Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and one of which was produced by Brian Eno.
Four years since her last album and 12 since biggest hit Torn, it may take the involvement of such rock royalty to revive wider interest in a music career that has only briefly been
spectacular.
The reaction to her hour-long performance was warm, but a passionate atmosphere was hard to maintain when three-quarters of the set was unfamiliar. It felt more like a music industry showcase than a gig for fans. Torn was fired out only three songs in, which made proceedings less predictable. They stayed that way because the new material was all over the shop.
Known for earnest, semi-acoustic pop rock in the vein of her most famous anthem, she surprised by opening her set with the speedy synthpop of WYUT, almost playing Kylie at her own game. Want, the next single and a Martin co-write, featured an odd combination of chugging rock guitar and xylophone, while Cameo was the most out of character of all, a heavy five-note synth riff with Imbruglia doing breathlessly sexy at the microphone and an almost discordant chorus.
It’s Kylie who’s the successful cipher for endless different styles, however, and Imbruglia seemed most comfortable back on safer territory. Scars was a pretty, simple acoustic ballad. The other two Martin songs, Lukas and Fun, leaped out as top quality anthems, the former with the best chorus of the night, the latter a slow-moving heartbreaker that Coldplay could have turned into something extraordinary.
Her all-male band donned feather boas and novelty headgear for Wild About It, a mid-paced party tune that was catchy in a less subtle way, and she concluded with two more old singles, the sub-Alanis Morissette rock bounciness of Wishing I Was There and heavier bluster of Big Mistake.
A decade on from winning two BRIT Awards, longer since her debut album sold seven million copies, there was confirmation that more hits are on the way before the end of the year. But it will take marriage to Harry to make her pop’s biggest princess again.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
